Attacking the First Lady for a brief, harmless appearance. Being ashamed of their country. Proudly discussing their love for conspiracy theories. Pushing claims that aren’t backed up by the evidence. This week we’re looking at what happens when media act with irresponsible impunity.John Whitehouse
Twitter: @existentialfish

Michelle Obama Attacked

After being asked, Michelle Obama made a surprise appearance via video at the Academy Awards, and predictably right-wing media attacked her for it. Washington Postpolitical blogger Jennifer Rubin, Fox News Radio’s Todd Starnes, and others lashed out at the First Lady, even though Laura Bush, Ronald Reagan, and even Franklin D. Roosevelt had previously participated in the Oscars. http://mm4a.org/X9ZZaQ

Ted Nugent, Alex Jones & The NRA

9/11 truther and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones hosted NRA board member and columnist Ted Nugent. It quickly turned into a mutual love fest. Timothy Johnson looks at a number of key moments that reveal just how extreme the NRA really is: http://mm4a.org/YXy6AY

Bob Woodward Joins The Phony Outrage Machine

Bob Woodward went on a media tour claiming that he was threatened by the White House over his since debunked claims about the sequester. But recently revealed emails show it was a civil conversation between Woodward and the White House. Eric Boehlertexamines Woodward’s claim: http://mm4a.org/ZLNuXa

Conservative Media Inspire Unpopular Wrestlers

Recent wrestling characters have been widely booed across the country for their position on immigration. But while Glenn Beck called them a conservative stereotype, Oliver Willis demonstrates line by line that what these characters say is taken right from conservative media figures, including Beck himself. http://mm4a.org/Y3NygU

FEATURED VIDEO

Rush Limbaugh declared that for the first time in his life, he is ashamed of his country. Well, Rush, the feeling is mutual: http://mm4a.org/WVfVh5

BUT DID IT WIN THE MORNING?

Politico heavily pushed the narrative that Bob Woodward was threatened by the White House. But when they released the full transcipt of emails, it was clear they were hyping a bogus allegation without the full context. Simon Maloy examinesPolitico‘s approach: http://mm4a.org/15lakEk

Way too often I hear and read blatantly false statements about climate change, namely that it doesn’t exist. It’s very frustrating — and it makes me want to fight back and make sure we all hear the truth.

There’s a new online tool called Reality Drop from The Climate Reality Project, along with Arnold Worldwide, built to spread the truth and destroy denial around climate change. This is the REAL information from scientists’ decades of research, not government or corporations. Give it a try.

Visit Reality Drop and get started!

There are two things I’m passionate about: my music and nature. Therefore, I’m passionate we get it right about climate change so we may continue to enjoy music and our precious environment. Reality Drop is a way to respond to those who deny climate change and make sure our friends have access to the truth — and have fun while we’re at it.

Thanks to the women in this room and people all across the country, we worked really hard — and it’s now been more than three years since Congress passed the Affordable Care Act and I signed it into law. It’s been nearly a year since the Supreme Court upheld the law under the Constitution. And, by the way, six months ago, the American people went to the polls and decided to keep going in this direction. So the law is here to stay.

I’ll do everything in my power to make sure nothing like this happens again by holding the responsible parties accountable, by putting in place new checks and new safeguards, and going forward, by making sure that the law is applied as it should be — in a fair and impartial way.

They exemplified the very idea of citizenship — that with our God-given rights come responsibilities and obligations to ourselves and to others. They embodied that idea. That’s the way they died. That’s how we must remember them. And that’s how we must live.